BERLIN
Council of Europe (COE) Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks has praised Turkey’s open-door policy for Syrian refugees, urging CE members to contribute more.
Muiznieks told Anadolu Agency (AA) that Turkey has accepted ten times more refugees than all other CE member states combined and needs both financial assistance and aid in the form of resettlement for a group of shelter-seekers.
"Turkey has done a very commendable job opening its arms to receive Syrian refugees," Muiznieks said.
Turkey houses nearly one million refugees, around 210,000 in camps on its southern border and the rest mainly in city centers around the region.
The Turkish government spends nearly $42 million a month to run the camps, with the total expenditures so far having reached $2.5 billion.
"I think the situation is difficult in the camps, but it seems they were very well run," Muiznieks noted, adding that he was very impressed by the work of the Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency's (AFAD).
He said the refugees would be putting “increasing pressure and demands on the Turkish authorities” as time went on. “But I think Turkey has done an exemplary job," he added.
- Refugee crisis is here to stay-
Muiznieks said Turkey has received no more than $150 million in foreign assistance in its efforts to host Syrians.
“Consequently, they clearly need help, both financial help but also help in resettling of some of the people,” he said.
The COE Commissioner for Human Rights commended “good examples” among COE members in responding to the Syrian refugee crisis, citing Germany on the issue of resettlement and Sweden on granting resident permits.
But he urged other member states to contribute more, criticizing Spain, Greece or Ukraine for not recognizing Syrians as refugees, while slamming Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration for ‘pushback’ policies.
“The European countries should realize that the crisis will not go away in the near future and that they have to step up to the job and help these people.”
Muiznieks said the refugee crisis would be debated next month in the COE Parliamentary Assembly.
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